We're a bit ****ed for this one... McG Rosie Chester Davies Robertson Elmo Meyler Quinn Brady Jelly Abel
We really are. I'm inclined to go with the same team as you. Ramirez has shown glimpses, but he's also very lightweight and is trying too many ambitious passes instead of the simple ball, and Sunderland away isn't the sort of game for a delicate flower like him. Given the lack of CM options Quinn will surely start, and as I've said before I think Brady should be getting more starts than he is.
Ramirez was awful in the last game , his passing was atrocious and he was the one who backed away from Shelvey - which led to the goal . that XI above is probably our strongest , although i think Aluko may get a start ahead of Abel H . But at 10mill he needs to on the pitch proving his worth.
I would swap Brady with Robertson , I see Robertson long term as a left winger not a left back. Great energy and go forward but his defending as we have seen in the past is a little suspect at times although he is still young and raw and will learn with more experience he gains.
I can't help but think the players in the squad only suit playing 4-2-3-1 when everyone is fully fit. This week I would go with. Greggys Rossie, Chester, maguire, robbo Mayler, Quinn Elmo, Gaston/Abel, Brady Jelavic. I have picked maguire as not sure id Davies is fit. Tell Mayler to sit and protect the back four, and Quinn will always be busy and try and keep the ball, which is one thing we don't see to do at all.
So we are talking nowadays, despite all of the spending, about a team that has circa 70% make-up of our Championship players - tried and trusted I suppose but is that going to keep us in the PL?
Well, we beat Sunlun 3 out of 3 last season but to be fair only once did they finish with 11 men. They appear to be open to our line of attack so maybe this could be the game where we could turn it around. Elmo will be flogging his guts out against his old Club and could well be a match winner. I too would put Brady in the starting line as I feel that he and Robertson will form a formidable partnership in time. Where we fall down is in the final third and I am sure that Steve and his team, having exhausted the conventional (with only two goals in the last ten) will try something unconventional. Wouldn't surprise me at all to see three up front with Aluko starting. I watched the NE Derby last Sunday and Sunlun were simply not in it. Newcastle attacked with wave after wave on the Sunlun goal but a break-away at the end got Sunlun the winner. Fletcher (showing signs of tiring these days) and Wickham will be a threat to us at times so I am hoping Poyet has a brain lapse and starts Altidore (that's a joke Ethel). With Dawson, Diame and The Hudd out I still can't see us getting anything from this game but, like I said, if Elmo and Brady can shake their markers we could start to turn things around. As another poster stated, Hernandez has got to start putting in a shift soon or he will finish up like Proschwitz.
Have to agree with this ^^^^. However if Davies and Bruce jnr dont make it then Macca has to start. imo. Thankfully Sunderland dont look much either at the moment and Wickham is Suspended. If we step it up a few gears and create some chances then who knows. Sunderland are not blessed with quick defenders either so Robbo and Elmo need to be getting in behind the Mackems full backs. 6 points in the next 2 games and the picture look a whole lot better. Brady and Aluko will offer us something off the bench if required.
Robertson has absolutely zero end product though, he's no winger. He's a full back who will learn his defensive duties better over time, he's decent enough in the challenge he just goes missing now and again. I would go McGregor Elmo Maguire Chester Robertson Aluko Meyler Quinn Brady Sagbo Hernandez Aluko and Sagbo always seemed to link up well in the past and Jelavic has looked way off it since returning from injury, I'd rest him for the Leicester game which we actually have a chance at getting something from.
The injuries will probably force us to go 4-4-2 with Rosey & Elmo on the right and Robertson & Brady opposite, I've been looking forward to seeing those 2 combinations all season.
I'd go with: McG Elmo Chester Maguire Davies Robbo Meyler Quinn Brady Hernandez Jelavić Picked Brady in the 'hole' as he's creative, but decent defensively. He may also on ocaission try and have a shot from range. Something we don't do often enough.
I think I would go with this one also, Ramirez I thought did OK in the first half Saturday, but for away game that will need some energy and get stuck in, he is not suited to that role.
We're you out the night he scored against England? Did you miss the crossbar rattle on Saturday? Are you completely deluded?
There's no way Bruce will go to Sunderland with two up front to start with. He'll be looking for a 0-0 draw at worst & I think he will go with (subject, of course, to fitness): McGregor, Chester, Davies, Bruce/McGuire, Elmo, Meyler, Quinn, Ramirez, Brady, Aluko, Jelavic
I saw both, one was a miss which sort of proves my point. He gets forward excellently but his delivery is abysmal. I could count on one hand the number of decent crosses he's put in. He definitely doesn't have the end product to play as the attacking outlet you need your winger to be.
I suspect Ince will be on the bench, and if either of Davies or Bruce is injured then Figgy will be a sub too.
I think they'll both have to be if only one of those lads is injured wont they? I think we'll end up with McGregor Rosenior Chester Maguire Robertson Elmohamady Meyler Quinn Brady Aluko Jelavic Jakupovic Figueroa Ince Sagbo Ramirez Hernandez then that leaves either McShane or Ben Arfa to fill the last bench spot or he gives it to one of the kids. Unless I've forgotten someone of course.
I assume you were watching a different derby to yesterday's . Newcastle had a good first 10 minutes then we had all of the play for the next 45 , it was even from then on. Looking at the chances created, they were forced into long range shots while Fletcher hit the bar Connor hit the post, hissed an open goal with a header at the back post Johnson missed a sitter Gomez had the best chance of the game before we did score. After that Larson should have made it two! We will not have Connor as he suspended for this game, however that means we will play with wingers and not a forward out of position. If we keep a full team on the the pitch you will find it difficult to score. If you take out the Southampton game only three teams have conceded less than we have, so don't be fooled by that one off game.
